Prepositional Phrases

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When the complement is indefinite

le peann.
with pen
'WIth a pen.' (Adger 2000)
Do taigh.
to house
'To a house.' (Adger 2000)

When the complement is definite

  • prepositions appear in their definite forms
leis a' pheann.
with.def the pen
'WIth the pen.' (Adger 2000)
Dhan an taigh.
to.def the house
'To a house.' (Adger 2000)

When the complement is a demonstrative or a possessive NP

  • prepositions do not appear in their definite forms
ri seo.
to this
'To this.' (Adger 2000)
*ris seo.
to.def this (Adger 2000)
ri mo bhràthair.
to 1sg.poss brother
'To my brother.' (Adger 2000)
*ris mo bhràthair.
to.def 1sg.poss brother (Adger 2000)

When the definite DP complement is extracted out of the PP

  • prepositions do not appear in their definite forms
'S e an duine a bha an seo an-dè a dh'fheuch mi ri mharbhadh.
cop.pres 3sg.m the man wh-C be.pres here yesterday wh-C try.pst 1sg to kill.vn
'It was the man that was here yesterday that I tried to kill.' (Adger 2000)
*'S e an duine a bha an seo an-dè a dh'fheuch mi ris mharbhadh.
cop.pres 3sg.m the man wh-C be.pres here yesterday wh-C try.pst 1sg to.def kill.vn (Adger 2000)

See Also